Luggage case



FIG. 1`.

Apnl 28, 1942. H. R. SCHWAB 2,281,114

LUGGAGE CASE Filed oct. 19, 1939 5 sheets-sheet 1 N N N INVENTOR Hu g 1:1 R El nhwah:

ATTORNEY'S.

April 28, 1942. H. R. scHwAB LUGGAGE cAsE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1939 INVVENTOR. H g D R. 5 hwah ATTORNEYS.

BY f

April 28., 1942. H. RL SCHWAB LUGGAGE CASE Filed OCt. 19 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. CCCP* INVENTOR. Hg 1:1 R. E hwab SYM ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1942. H. R. SCHWAB 2,281,114

,LUGGAGE CASE I v Filed oct. `19, 1959 y 5 sheets-sheep 4 l '227 ig a0 Hugs: R. ECLHWED INVENTOR.

. wia@ f ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1942. H. R. SCHWAB LUGGAGE CASE Filed Oct. 19, 1939 5 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

`Patented Apr. 28, 1-942 LUGGAGE CASE Hugo R. Schwab, Mayville, Wis., assigner to The Peerless Traveling Goods C0., Mayville, Wis.

Application October 19, 1939, Serial No. 300,273

Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in lug-` gage cases.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a luggage case particularly adapted for the holding of garments, such as ladies dresses in properly folded positionso that they will not become wrinkled or creased while packed.`

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved luggage case which is particularly Well adapted for packing long garments, such as ladies dresses; means being provided therein to permit of the proper initial horizontal positioning of garments so that they may be rlat packed and properly folded in a taut and even manner so that there will be no liability of wrinkling or creasing of the garments during transport or While the case is packed.

`A further object of thisinvention is the provision of improved fold providing and maintain-l ing means for a luggage case.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved garment supporting and foldlproviding means for a luggage case.

"A further object of this invention is the provision `of improved bracket means for luggage cases. l

A further object of this invention 1s the pro- `vision of an improved garment hanger for luggage cases.

Other objects and advantages of this invention 30' will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

` In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the luggage case, showing the sections open and the parts positioned as they would appear when the garments are folded in the case; no garments being shown in the'view.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the case in the position shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a View of the opened case, with the body and cover sections in horizontal position, showing the initial position of a garment in the case prior to the initial folding operation.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, but showing the initial folding operation.

Figure 5 is a View of the open sections of the case with the garments therein folded and a curtain covering the garments in the cover section. Figure 6 is a llongitudinal sectional view taken through the cover section of the case, with the hinged relation of the body section being also shown in this view.

Figure' is a perspective view of the case in a display position (without garments).

'Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a `bracket construction embodied inthe case at the juncture of the cover and body sections; the said sections being shown in closed relation.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with the sections in right angled or display positioned relation.

Figure 10 `is a sectional View taken substantially on the line |07|0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a View of the bracket construction as shown in Figures 8 and 9, but with the body and cover sections in fully opened horizontally positioned relation.

Figure 12 is a view of a hanger associated with the luggage case; the supporting hook thereof being positioned as it would appear when hanging garments on a hook or in a closet.

Figure 13 is a view of the hanger shown in Figure l2, but with the hook in the relation which it assumeswhen it is associated with the luggage case.

Figure 14 is -a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line l4--l4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a View of a spring bracket associated with the free end Wall of the cover section of the case, and upon which the garment hangers are adapted to be releasably supported.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A mayv generally designate the case which includes a body section B and a cover section C. The garment hanger arrangement D is associated with the cover section Cr and in the case is provided a garment fold producing means E. Bracket constructions F are provided at each side of theV case at the hinged juncture of the cover and body sections, and the case has associated therewith ,a shoe compartment G. The garments adapted to besupported in the case are desig-V nated atH in various figures of the drawings.

The body section B consists of side Walls20 and 2l, a free end wall 22, an end wall 23` to which the sectionC is hinged, and a bottomwall 24. The cover section or portion C is of box-shaped formation and includes the side walls 25 and 26; the free end wall 21; end wall 28 to which` the section B is hinged, and an outer orftop wall 29. The sections B and C are principally hinged at 3U, 'as shown in dotted lines in Figgarments in the relation shown in Figure 5; the 55 ure 1 of the drawings so that they may swing If desired the sections B and C may be of exactly the same size. They are both box-shaped, and while the present invention shows the cover section C as pro-vided with the garment supporting and fold maintaining parts of this invention,

aeeiuii shown in Figure 10 of the drawings; the head or rivet 65 which is on the slide pin 55 being larger on diameter than the width of the slot 5I, for obvious reasons.

When the link 42 has assumed the position shown in Figure 9, of the drawings with the slide pin Si! in its latched position in the notch 5l, the spring urged detent ball 6G will of course hold this position until the link 42 is pulled upwardly to detach the slide pin 5l) from the notch 5l and place it in the line of the slot 5|. When this position is assumed the detent ball 6H will ride just along the top straight edge of the body the section B may be similarly iitted. That is, v

either one or the other, or both of them may be provided with the garment supporting and fold maintaining arrangement shown in the drawings and to be subsequently described.`

The bracket constructions F are located at each side of the case and connect between the sections' Bv and C. rIyhey not only serve to better stabilize the connection of the sections, but enable the sections to be 'maintained in. the socalled display position shownin Figure '74, and they further serve as4 connecting means for one ofthe garment fold positioning frames as will be subsequently"described,v Each of these bracket constructions F includesa bracket portion 4d nnedly connected to a side wall of the body sectionB, ofthe case; a bracket portion lil xedly connected to the side wall of the cover portion C of the case, and a connecting link 0,2 between these portionsmiii` and 4|.. As is shown in the drawings,4 the bracket portion 4I has an attaching ear or ange 45Which is riveted at 4B to the innersurface of eachside wall of the cover section of the case, and from there it is bent'to provide anr attaching iiang'e lllto which the link gais pivotally co,nnected asv at 48. The link 42 y o isletl invertedA U-shape formation and at its endl opposite the pivot connection 48 is provided with anheadedrretaining pin 50 which slides in a hori- `zjontal slot 57|, provided in the bracket portion ltbqf the 1bracket construction F. This bracket portion'lli has an yelongated body 52 in which the slot; 5l iswlengitudinally provided, and it isprovided withattahing ears 53j` which are bent out.

ofte-the plane of the vbool-y 52 `and receive rivets 15ft vwhioh-,attaclithe bracket portion 4,0 ,to the ,inner surface oieach of `the side wallsof the` body secf tion; .B1 *The brackets it and al are of course located adiacent the hinge connection of the case sections BfandvC, and as aforesaidthe pin iiihrwhich may bel a roller, slides inthe slot 5l andtenables thesections BV and C to be properly opened. and closed* The body 52 of the bracket portionAvAUA- isivprovided with aV latching notch 51v about midway/between the ends ofthe slot 5| and communicating therewith and in the lower edge of vth`erslot,4,into which the sliderpin'il of the link, 4.2 may be engaged, asshown in FigureQ o f the drawingsin order to hold` thesection Bin'rightangledY relation to the Vbody`sec'ztion C of the case.V AIn order t maintain this position a spring Vurged detent ball lis provided `upon a leg of theuinkta as shown in Figure'io, maintained in position byla vleaf spring 6i and which mayengageinfa notch 62 of the bracket 40 in order to hold the Slide pn"50 Of the linkin the latch notch l and maintain the luggage case sections Yin the' relation shownin Figures V'7 Aand 9 of they drawings. The'Y leaf spring 6I which is socketed tolfrec'eivey the ball 60 preferably is held on the bymeans'ot the headed slide pin 50, as,v

i2 or the bracket lit, where the stop and guide ilange i@ is provided, and the detent in this position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 10 of the drawings, will then prevent the slide pin 50 from dropping into the notch 5l', and the case sections B and C may be opened and closed at will between positions where they are in thel same plane andA their closed position. In order for the pins Eil of these bracket constructions to again enter the notch 5l'v they must be pushed to force the spring urged detent ball into the position where it is below the straight edge formed by the flange li of the bracket 40.

Referring to thegarment hanger construction D the same includesY a spring bracket construction l0 shcwnbest in Figure l5 of the drawings, adapted to beattached to the free end wall of the cover section C and tol receive a considerable number of individual garment hangers 8|` The garment hangers 8ly are flat and shaped in the usual manner toA support the neck and shoulders of. agarment andfeachris providedwitha hookshaped member im npivot-ed at S5 so that the hook end of the `member may ber pivoted toan upright position as shown in Figure 12 for hanging on the hooksr in closets, or collapsed tor the position shown in Figure lf3.r At the opposite side of,v the pivot from the hook ofthe member 64 is an extension 51 slotted at 8l. This extension 86. projects from the top edge of the hanger portion 8| whenthe hook end is collapsed as shown in Figure' 13 and the slot 8l is in position to be slipped upon the bracket construction 89.

The bracket construction dii includes a plate portion 8d adapted to be attachedV as by riveting` through openings Sii to the inner surface of, the

free end wall of the cover section C. Longitudil downwardly and adapted to receive the end 92' of the spring ann 93.. As shown inthe. drawings the bight portion St which connects the portion 92v andthe. spring arm 93 engaged against the inner surface of thebottom .wall at the junctureA of thebottcrn andend walls ofthecase section l?.v and v`this holds the portion inthe socket 91'.'

The spring arm at extends diagonally upward:

and is bowed at S5 to engagel against thetopinclined endd` ofthe vattaching plate From this position the free end of the spring arm 93;' may be flexed to insert the same in the slot 81' `of thegarment hanger and anynumberof thelatter may bethfus positioned upon the. spring arm 93, fromv which vthey be detached-as desired, The dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4 oi' the drawings show, theassemblyT of a large number of these nat garment hangers construction-8ll-. y Referring to the, .garment fold forming arrangermer-:1t`A the .san-le includes, Va., primary fold producingframe orA member itiljandjasecondin position upon the spring armor thebracket.

individually*` tain in the case.

ary fold producing frame or member The former consists of side arms |02 and |03 pivoted at |04 on the inner surfaces of the side walls 25 and 26 of the cover section C above the midway point of each of said walls. The arms |02 and |03 have offset feet where they are pivoted andat their free ends they support a fold produoing and maintaining roller |08 which may be of` any approved construction. These arms are sufficiently long that the roll-er |06 may be positioned entirely inside of the cover compartment of the cover section C and spaced from the end wall 23 thereof when it is in its fold producing position; the space between the end wall 28.and the roller |06 in this position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings being` suincient to accommodate the thickness of the number of garments which it is intended to main- Figure 4 illustrates the operation `of the frame or member |00 to facilitate initial folding of the garments, as will be sub sequently described.

The garment fold maintaining arrangement further includes the frame |0|vabove mentioned. This includes side arms ||0 and which are pivoted to the brackets 4| above described, at pivot points H3, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, and elsewhere. The arms i and lili at their pivot ends are disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the line of the remainingportions of the arms, so that these arms H0 and i i may lie in a horizontal position over the open end or" the body section B of the case preparatory to folding of garments, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. At their free ends the arms Il!) and Hi are provided with a fold supporting bar or rod `|20. These arms l0 and il as to length, and the positions of the bar `are of such dimensions that the entire frame Iii! may be disposed in the compartment of the cover section C, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

. It was before mentioned that inturned horizontal flanges 70 were provided upon the top edge of the brackets 40, as shown in Figure 10 of the drawings. These flanges serve to Support the arms ||0 and ||I of the fold frame |0| in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, so that the bar 20, while positioned as it is in Figure 3 of the drawings, will serve to maintain the garments in flat horizontal position and prevent their sagging into the compartment of the case section B. noted that the fold bar |20 is positioned inwardly a slight distance from the ends of the arms ||0 and these extensions beyond the bar |20 serving to hold the sides of the thickness of garments in position.

From the foregoing description the method of folding the garments and properly positioning them in the luggage case will be apparent. The sections B and C are opened to the position shown in Figure 3 with the fold frames |00 and |0| also in the position shown in Figure 3. Of course, prior to that the garments were assembled upon the hangers 8| and positioned in bulked relation shown in Figure 3. The rst step of folding is to swing the frame |00 to the position shown in Figure 4 and the fold bar |06 will then position the garments for the initial fold. The Jframe |0| is then swung as shown in Figure 4 and moved to the position shown in Figure 6 and this places the garments in three layers, and with two folds; the fold points of course being at the rollers |06 and |20. It is to el O It should be i benoted that the entire'olded assemblage of garments is within the compartment of the cover section C.

The next operation is that of strapping the folded -garments and their frames in position. To that end the straps |26 and IZ'I are connected on the inner surfaces of the opposite side walls of the cover section C and they are provided with suitable buckle means |28 wellknown in the art, to effect their connection. They are placed close to the free end of the cover section C.

A curtain |30 is connected to the hinged end of the cover section C and of a length and width to completely cover the assemblage of garments packed within the cover section C. The curtain may be of any approved nature and may include a slat reinforced free edge |31. The inner surface of the free end wall 21 of the cover section C is provided with suitable fastener portions |35 adapted to cooperate with complementary fastener portions |36 which are adjustably provided on pull strapsk |31 at the free end of the curtain, in order to hold the closed position of the curtain over the packed garments, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

, As above stated the body section B of the case may be provided with means similar to that above described for packing garments. In lieu thereof it may be provided with other accessories. One of these accessories may be the improved shoe compartment G, which is iiexible in nature and pocketed at the hinged and o1" the section B; the same consisting of flexible top and bottom panels |40 and end panels; the top panel being connected by a slidable zipper |59 so that the pocket may be opened or closed. The dotted lines shown at |5| in Figure 5 of the drawings designate the open position of the top panel of the shoe compartment.

From the foregoing description of this invention it will be apparent that an improved luggage case has been provided which is relatively simple, and one in which the bulk arrangement of garments may be folded and packed without liability of becoming wrinkled or creased. The method of packing is simple and improved and there is no complicated mechanism which cannot be readily understood by anyone.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts and rearrangement of the steps of packing may be made provided said changes come within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a luggage case the combination of a cover section, a body section, garment hanger means at an end wall of at least one of said sections, a frame on said sections including pivoted side arms and a fold maintaining bar adapted to be swung to a fold maintaining position to a point adjacent the wall opposite that wall which sup ports the garment hangers, said side arms being pivoted on an axis transverse to the section on which mounted so that the bar thereof may be swung to a position entirely out of obstructing relation with the compartment of said case section, and a second fold frame independently pivoted on the case with respect to the iirst frame and adjacent that wall which is opposite the wall on which the garment hanger is connected and having a fold bar at its free end adapted to assume a position adjacent to the garment hanger wall of the case section when in garment fold maintaining position.

2. A luggage case comprising a pair of movably connected sections which when opened lie in the same general plane, one of such sections at its free end having means for hanging a garment thereon so that the garment initially may be laid in extended relation upon both of said sections when the latter are open, a fold producing member pivotally mounted upon that section to which the garment hanger is connected on a transverse axis remote from the point of -connectionof said sections and adapted to be moved into position to hold a garment hung on the hanger adjacent the point of connection of said sections so that the garment may be folded at that location upon itself, and a second fold producing member connected With that section to Which the -first 'fold producing member is connected and independent of the first fold member and positioned so that the garment when it is first laid in extended relation over the sections Will lie over the second fold member, said second fold producing member, When the case sections are opened, having its foldL producing portion located remote fromthe connection of said sections whereby, `after the rst fold producing member is in positicnor producing a fold in the garment, the second 'fold producing member may be movedto place the garment in a folded relation uponitself in the iirst mentioned case section and produce a second fold in the garment adjacent the garment hanging means of the first mentioned case section.

3. In a luggage case, the combination of a pair of connected box sections, means at the free end of one of said sections for hanging a garment thereon, a fold producing member pivotally connected adjacent to the connection of said sections extensible into and out of the section which supports said hanger and having a fold bar positioned adjacent to said hanger when said yfold producing member is disposed lvvithinsaid section, and a second fold producing member pivotally mountedupon that section upon which the hanger is mounted at a location close to the central portion of said section and swingable' into and out of said sectionand having afold ybar positioned adjacent to the point of connection. of

said sections when the second mentioned fold producing member is disposed Within the section on Which itis mounted.

4. In a luggage case, a combination of case sections, one of said sections having aifold producing member pivoted adjacent to an end Wall thereof and extensible into and out of said section and having a fold producing bar adapted to lie adjacent to the opposite end Wall of `said section when it lies Within the section, and a second fold producing member pivoted directly to the same section and independently of the first mentioned fold producing member at substantially the mid- Way point between the end Walls above mentioned, and extensible into and out of said section and having a fold bar adapted to lie Within the section adjacent to that end Wall to Which the first mentioned fold producing member is closest with f respect to its pivot connection.

5. In a luggage case, the combination or" luggage case sections including end and side Walls, one of said sections having a fold producing member pivoted thereto adjacent to an end Wall and having a fold bar adapted to lie adjacent to the opposite end Wall of said section when the fold producing member is disposed within said section, and a second fold producing member pivoted Within the same section to which the rst mentioned fold producing member is pivoted and at a location about midway between the end Walls of said section but closer to the end Wall remote from that end Wall adjacent to which the first mentioned fold producing member is pivoted, the second mentioned fold producing member having a fold bar adapted to lie adjacent to that end Wall closest to the pivot oi the iirst mentioned fold producing member when the said second fold producing member is disposed Within said section, the fold bar of the second fold producing member adapted to lie upon the top edge of the wall of its section which is closest to its pivot mounting when said second fold producing member is extended out of the section.

HUGO R. SCHWAB. 

